Experimental behavioral studies with oxiracetam on different types of chronic cerebral impairment

Oxiracetam (4-hydroxy-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide) is a novel compound effective in improving learning and memory in normal animals as well as in animals with acute cerebral impairment induced by a variety of noxious stimuli (i.e., electroshock, neurodepressants, metabolic inhibitors, hypoxia). In accordance with a stepwise approach to the pharmacological studies, the compound was also tested in rats with chronic cerebral impairment due to aging, cerebrovascular lesions, and congenital microencephaly. To evaluate the brain telencephalic functions, the learning rate of two conditioned avoidance responses using the pole climbing test and the performance in a multiple-choice water maze were considered. Oxiracetam at doses ranging from 10 to 60 mg/kg i.p. improved the learning rate of these animals with impaired cognitive functions. The compound was active also by oral administration.